Ophthalmic mounting



Aug. 18, 1936. CE. -1. COLLIANDER OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING Filed July 15, 1935 CHI-170 W163 Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENTTOFFl CE Carl E. H. ColliandenProvidence, B. 1., assignor to Lorgnettes, Inc., Providence, It. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application July 15, 1935. Serial No. 31,333

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to ophthalmic mountings, more particularly mountings comprising a raised bridge, and its chief Object is to provide a new and improved detachable con- 6' nection between the bridge and the lens-holding members of mountings of this character, in order that the stock required to be kept on hand by the ordinary optician may be reduced to the minimum, and in order that any broken or unstylishl part, whether lens rim or bridge, may readily be replaced by another.

The invention will be explained in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an ophthalmic mounting constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a corresponding fragmentary, rear elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of a portion of the lens rim shown in Fig. 2, upon a larger scale, the guard being removed for clearness; Fig. 4 is a similar perspective of the corresponding end of the bridge; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section, upon thes'ame larger scale, the section being taken upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, looking downward in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the end of the bridge shown in Fig. 4, separated from the corresponding rim, which is shown in longitudinal, vertical section.

The ophthalmic mounting of the present invention comprises, in its preferred embodiment, two substantially circular, metal, lens-holding rims 2 and 4, connected together by a metal bridge, and having guards 38. The rims 4 and 2 are respectively provided with pockets 8 and Ill, open at the top l2 and also at the bottom 14, but closed at the lower portions of the front 29, the back 3| and the sides 25 that are disposed opposite to the inner walls 5 and 9 of the pockets 8 and I0. It is preferred to have the bottoms l4 open to prevent the accumulation of dust and the like. Furthermore, a better support is obtained by having the depending portions l8 and 2B of the bridge extend through the bottoms M of the pockets. The pockets 8 and I5 taper downward from the top l2 toward the bottom M. The inner wall 5 of the pocket 8 is a continuation of the outer wall 1 of the rim 4, and the inner wall 9 of the pocket Ill is similarly a continuation of the outer wall ll of the rim 2.

The ophthalmic mounting of the present invention is of the type that is supported upon the face by the guards 38, that rest upon the sides of the nose, in cooperation with temples 6. The bridge is, therefore, provided with an intermediate, raised portion l6, and the said two terminal or end porti'ons l8 and depending from the raised portion l6. The lower extremities of the end portions 18 and 253 taper 5- downward, as illustrated at 22, to correspond to the downward taper of the pockets 8 and in. These lower extremities 22 are thus adapted to be slid into'their corresponding pockets 8 and Ill, through'the-open tops and bottoms l2 and I4, and will then fit tightly therein, with the end portions I8 and 2B, and particularly their lower parts or extremities 22, conforming substantially to the shapes'of the respective rims 2 and 4. A considerable part of the portions i8 5" and 20 contact with the respective outer surfaces I and II of the rims'Z and 4.

Each bridge end portion I8 and 20 is detachably held in place in its corresponding pockets 8 and ID by a transversely movable clamp at 20. the upper end of each pocket. To this end, the upper portion of the rear sidewall of each pocket is split or divided at I3 so as to provide two walls l5 and IT on opposite sides of the split; The wall i5 is provided with an interiorly threaded, hollow element I9, and thewall I! with a smooth-bored, hollow element 2!. A screw 26 may be loosely mounted in the element 2| and threaded in the element H3. The wall I! merges in a wall 23 at right angles thereto, which is substantially a continuation of the wall of the pocket, except that it is separated therefrom by a slot 21. The wall I! is similarly separated from the wall 3| by a slot 33. By tightening the screw 26, therefore; it is possible to actuate the clamp walls transversely toward the clamp walls I5, into engagement with the respective end portions l8 and. 20 of the bridge. A very effective bridge-holding pocket is thus provided, having a wall the upper por-' tion of which is slit longitudinallyat l3 in the 'side3l and transversely at 21 and33 to form. the transversely movable clamp wall ll. To detach the bridge, all that is necessary is to unscrew the screw 25. The extremities 22 and 24 of the, bridge may then be freely moved upward, through the open tops 12 of the pockets Band In, and thebridge replaced by another bridgeof different shape, size, orstyle.

The lower portions of the bridge thus conform in all respects to, and fit snugly'against, the outer surfaces 1 and H of the rims, the end portions l8 and 20. of the bridgeare detachable from the rims 2 and 4, and yet the parts are nevertheless securely held together in assembled relation.

Each depending portion I8 and 20 of the bridge has a taperin clamping face 35, formed by cutting diagonally into the bridge at 31 and 39,

so as exactly to receive the wall 23 between the cuts 31 and 39.

When the screw 26 is tightened, therefore, the wall 23 will clamp against the tapering clamping face. The cuts 31 and 39 constitute shoulders at the ends of the clamping face 35, between which shoulders the,

clamp wall 23 is received. 7

Adjustments for pupillary distance may be effected in the portion I6 of the bridge, but if too drastican adjustment is required, all that is necessary is to replace the bridge by another.

The optician is not, therefore, required to keep on hand more than a minimum number of.'

bridges and rims, of different sizes, shapes and styles, as he is now enabled to assemble any styleor size of bridge, with any style or size of rim to produce a mounting suitable to the requirements of any patient. Similarly, if any part, whether lens rim or bridge, becomes broken or unstylish, it may readily be replacedby another.

It will'be understood that the inventionmay be further modified by persons skilled in the art, and such modifications are considered to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. j

What is claimed is:

1. An ophthalmic mounting having, in combination; a bridge member having an interme diate raised portion and two end portions depending from the raised portion, two lens-holding members each ha'ving'a pocket open at the top' and the bottom, the inner wall of each pocket being ,a continuation of the outer wall of the corresponding lensh'olding member, the

7 end portions beingshaped' to conform to the 'detachably securing the said lower extremities in their respective pockets, the said lower extremities beingifreely movable into and out of their respective pockets through the open tops of the pockets when the detachable securing means'are ineffective. V r V 2.'An ophthalmic mounting having, in combination, a bridge member having an intermediate raised portion and two end portions depending from the raised portion, two lens-holding members each having a pocket open 'at the top and a transversely movable clamp, the inner wall of each pocket being a continuation of the outer wall of the, corresponding lens-holding member, the end portions beingshaped to conform to the shape of the lens-holding members throughout considerable portions of their lengths and thelower extremities of the respective end portions being shaped to correspond to the shape of the pockets, whereby the said lower extremities fit tightly in their corresponding pockets and the end portions contact with the lens-holding members throughout the said considerable portions of their lengths, and means for actuating the clamps transversely into engagement with the respective end portions for detachably securing the said lower extremities in their respective pockets, the said lower extremities being freely movable into and out of their respective pockets through the open tops of the pockets when the clamps are ineffective.

3. An ophthalmic mounting having, in combination, a bridge member having an intermediate raised portion and two end portions depending from the raised portion, two lens-holding members each having a pocket the upper portion of the wall of which is slit longitudi-' nally' and transversely to form a transversely movable. clamp, the inner wall of each pocket being a continuation of the outer wall of the corresponding lens-holding member, the pockets being open at the top and bottomand being shaped to conform to the lower extremities of the respective end portions, whereby the said lower extremitiesimay be slid into the'pockets through the, open topsand bottoms so as to be caused to fit tightly in their corresponding pockets, the lower parts of the end portions conforming substantially to the shapes'of the lensholding members when the said lower extremities are thus caused tofit tightly in the pockets, and screw means for actuating the clamps transversely into engagement with the respective end portions for detachably securing the said lower, extremities-in their respective pack ets, the said lower extremities being freely movable into and out of their respective pockets through the open tops of the pockets when the screw means are ineffective. r V r 4. vAn ophthalmic mounting having, in .combination, abridge member having an intermediate raised portion and two end portions depending from the raised portion,'each end portion having a tapering clamping face, two lensholding members each having a pocket'open at the top, the inner wall of each pocket being a continuation of the outer wall of the corre sponding lens-holding member, the end portions being shaped to conform to the shape of the lens-holding members throughout considerable portions of their lengths and the lower extremities of the respective end portions being shaped to correspond to the shape of the pockets, whereby the said lower extremities flt tightly in their corresponding pockets and the end portions contact with the lens-holding members throughout the said considerable portions of their lengths, andmeans for clamping against the tapering clamping face for detachably securing the said lower extremities in their re spective pockets, the saidlower extremities being freely movable into and out of their 'respec-' tive pockets through the open tops of the pockets when the clamping means are ineffective.

5. An ophthalmic mounting having, in combination, a bridge member having an intermediate raised portion and two end ing from the raised portion,

portions dependeach end! portion having a tapering clamping face with a shoulder at each end thereof, the lower extremities of the end portions being tapering, two lens-holding members each having a correspondingly tapering pocket open at the top and the bottom, whereby the said lower extremities fit tightly in their'corresponding pockets, the inner wall of each pocket being a continuation of the outer wall of the corresponding lens-holding member, and the upper portion of the wall of each pocket being slit longitudinally at one side and transversely to form a transversely movable clamp and having a screw at the said side, the lensholding member having a screw-threaded opening into which the screw is adapted to be threaded to cause the clamp to be actuated transversely into engagement with the tapering clamping face between the shoulders for detachably securing the said lower extremities in their respective pockets, the said lower extremities being freely movable into and out of their respective pockets through the open tops of the pockets when the screws are ineffective.

6. An ophthalmic mounting having, in combination, a metal bridge member having an intermediate raised portion and two end portions depending from the raised portion, each end portion having a tapering clamping face with a shoulder at each end thereof, the lower extremities of the end portions being tapering, two substantially circular metal lens-holding rims each having a correspondingly tapering pocket open at the top and the bottom, whereby the said lower extremities fit tightly in their corresponding pockets, the inner wall of each pocket being a continuation of the outer wall of the corresponding lens-holding rim, the lower parts of the end portions conforming substantially to the shapes of the rims when the said lower extremities fit tightly in the pockets, and the upper portion of the Wall of each pocket being slit longitudinally at one side and transversely to form a transversely movable clamp and having a screw at the said side, the lens-holding member having a screw-threaded opening into which the screw is adapted to be threaded to cause the clamp to be actuated transversely into engagement with the tapering clamping face between the shoulders for detachably securing the said lower extremities in their respective pockets, the said lower extremities being freely movable into and out of their respective pockets through the open tops of the pockets when the screws are ineffective.

7. An ophthalmic mounting having, in combination, a bridge member having an intermediate raised portion and two end portions depending from the raised portion, two lens-holding members each having a pocket open at the top and the upper portion of the wall of which is slit longitudinally and transversely to form a transversely movable clamp, the inner wall of each pocket being a continuation of the outer wall of the corresponding lens-holding member, the lower parts of the end portions conforming substantially to the shapes of the lens-holding members when the lower extremities of the end portions are inserted in the pockets, and means for actuating the clamps transversely into engagement with the respective end portions for detachably securing the said lower extremities in their respective pockets, the said lower extremities being freely movable into and out of their respective pockets through the open tops of the pockets when the clamps are ineffective.

8. An ophthalmic mounting having, in combination, a bridge member having an intermediate raised portion and two end portions depending from the raised portion, two lens-holding members each having a tapering pocket open at the top and the upper portion of the wall of which is slit longitudinally at one side and transversely to form a transversely movable clamp and having a screw at the said side, the inner wall of each pocket being a continuation of the outer wall of the corresponding lensholding member, the end portions being shaped to conform to the shape of the lens-holding members throughout considerable portions of their lengths and the lower extremities of the respective end portions being shaped to correspond to the shape of the pockets, whereby the said lower extremities fit tightly in their corresponding pockets and the end portions contact with the lens-holding members throughout the said considerable portions of their lengths, the lens-holding member having a screwthreaded opening into which the screw is adapted to be threaded to cause the clamp to be actuated transversely into engagement with the corresponding end portion for detachably securing the said lower extremities in their respective pockets, the said lower extremities being freely movable into and out of their respective pockets through the open tops of the pockets when the screws are ineffective.

9. An ophthalmic mounting having, in combination, a bridge member having an intermediate raised portion and two end portions de-' pending from the raised portion, each end portion having a clamping face with a shoulder at each end thereof, two lens-holding members each having a pocket open at the top and the upper portion of the wall of which is slit longitudinally and transversely to form a transversely movable clamp, the inner wall of each pocket being a continuation of the outer wall of the corresponding lens-holding member, the lower parts of the end portions conforming substantially to the shapes of the lens-holding members when the lower extremities of the end portions are inserted in the pockets, and means for actuating the clamps transversely into engagement with the clamping face between the shoulders for detachably securing the said lower extremi ties in. their respective pockets,'the said lower extremities being freely movable into and out of their respective pockets through the open tops of the pockets when the clamps are ineffective. CARL E. H. COLLIANDER. 

